Employees can use social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn in ways that reflect negatively on their employers by making derogatory statements about employers and coworkers or posting business-related information in the public sphere.

A study by DLA Piper found that one- third of employers have reprimanded employees for social media postings, despite the fact that only one-quarter of the businesses in the study have a social media policy in place. Other notable findings include:

• Twenty-one percent of employers warned employees about uncomplimentary posts about a coworker
• Twenty-two percent of employees made derogatory statements about colleagues on social media
• Twenty-eight percent of employees posted pictures of colleagues or work environments
• One percent of employees posted confidential business information.

Despite these findings, 39 percent of employers are still using social media within the workplace to enhance employee communication and engagement. Employers who use social media or who are considering doing so should have guidelines in place to restrict employees' personal use to protect the interest of businesses—including other employees—from slanderous statements and avoid risking the exposure of private information.